When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour,
it feels like a minute to him.
But if he sits on a hot stove, even a minute seems longer than any hour.
That is relativity.
Albert Einstein
Time & Relativity
This quote by Albert Einstein makes it clear just how relative our sense of time is.
Today we live in a society defined by:
- faster
- better
- now & immediately
I have adapted to this environment and can meet these demands very well (or almost perfectly). BUT it is clearly not in my nature AND I don't want it to be!
That's why a little summer break was necessary.
But: WE ARE BACK!!!
On the subject of "faster"
Slow is a kind of speed that many people have forgotten. But if we rush through life like that, is there still time to enjoy and appreciate things? Sometimes you just need to pause, savour the moment, and be grateful for what we have.
On the subject of "better"
Better — that word always carries a sense of "competition" for me. Does being "better" make you happy? In the long run? Isn't it just measuring yourself against others? Shouldn't we do the things we do for ourselves? And isn't "good" usually good enough?
On the subject of "now & immediately"
Everything has to get done, and if possible: right now and immediately! Some people handle these demands just fine; others feel steamrolled, constantly stressed and under pressure. I find that "sit back and wait it out" is always a good strategy every now and then — it lets things sort themselves out and problems vanish into thin air.
Looking back.
Last year I had hoped for a little less "action", but things never go the way you expect them to. "Stay flexible" is the name of the game!
Martina and Atlas passed the therapy dog assessment and now visit Herr M. at the care home every week. In her self-employed work she has her hands full at the moment, and the break in Griechenland, spent at her dad's over Christmas, already feels like a while ago. And the two rascals Tiago and Neroli naturally want their fair share of attention and fun too.
Our life, in turn, was turned quite upside down by little epileptic Archy, as you can read here and here. Managing the illness of our little grey boy has sometimes taken its toll on me (and us). But we are fighters, we've made great progress, and we've got "the witch" well under control!!
So quite a lot happened again over the past year. That's why things have felt a little quieter around us, and we weren't able to share as many Hundereisen as the year before.
Despite everything, there was a reason to celebrate in mid-July:
♥ HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY HUNDEREISE! ♥
Still impressive numbers, in spite of everything.
On 17.07.2017 I published the first article on our dog blog, and without having planned it, just as in year 1, the following 365 days brought 43 posts.
That means we've treated you to a total of 86 posts over the last 2 years. Not bad alongside a full-time job, 2 dogs, and a partner — or rather self-employment, therapy visits, 3 Galgos, 2 cats, 2 goats, and a snake, I'd say ;)
Here's how things look on social media:
- Facebook: 651 subscribers (2018) → 2.482 subscribers (2019)
- Pinterest: 78 followers (2018) → 643 followers (2019)
- Instagram: 720 followers (2018) → 1.240 followers (2019)
Which blog posts did you like best?
Overall ranking since the beginning — 2017 to 2019
The clear winner is still the post showing you how to make a snuffle mat yourself. Followed closely by my article about the passion for sewing (which in reality has sadly had far too little time devoted to it, and I've put the small business that came with it on hold for now). In third place you'll find our first Hundereise holiday destination, which is still a dream spot for four-legged travellers!
- DIY – Snuffle mat made yourself
- The dog as a calling, or how I discovered my passion for sewing
- Holiday with dog at the Weissensee
Ranking last year — 2018 to 2019
Here it looks different — our travel reports take the top spots. The most-read post was Part 2 about our wonderful Kroatien holiday. Followed by the recommendation that Martina and the Galgos were able to give about Italien. Last but not least: our joint trip to the Salzkammergut!
- Holiday with dog in Kroatien - Part 2
- Holiday with dog in Italien – Spanish Galgos in Cavallino-Treporti
- Holiday with dog in the Salzkammergut – Accommodation and hikes around Bad Ischl
The further development of Hundereise
I managed to keep up the goal of publishing a blog post every Sunday for a long time, and I'll be taking that up again. BUT with a more "slowed-down" mindset and the understanding that life can always get in the way — and I'm no longer putting pressure on myself about it.
The fun and the joy of writing are back, and I intend to hold onto them for a long time ;)
Fittingly, another quote from Einstein:
I never think about the future. It comes soon enough.
Albert Einstein
What Hundereise has in store for you:
- We'll do our best to treat you to regular posts (exceptions prove the rule, as described above)
- We'll soon be serving up some new hiking routes
- There will also be more of our travel tips again — definitely in 2020 :)
- Recommendations for products and books that we truly believe in will clearly be on the rise
- The Hundereise Manufaktur may be sleeping, but DIY projects are something I definitely want to keep sharing with you
Another thought that I still find very beautiful is that Hundereise is simply meant to symbolise the journey through life with your own dog! And that's why we simply tell stories about our furry companions.
To close
…I'd like to share my favourite Einstein quote with you. Albert, by the way, shares his birthday with me. Maybe that's why I find so much to appreciate in his way of thinking ;)
♥ Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited. ♥
Albert Einstein
Thanks to Paul Croes & Inge Nelis for all these amazing pictures!
(Photocredit: Paul Croes - Behind eyes)
